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Joshua 3
"When the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carried
the ark of the covenant ahead of the people. Now the Jordan overflows
its banks throughout the harvest season. But as soon as the priests
carrying the ark reached the Jordan, their feet touched the water at
its edge and the water flowing downstream stood still, rising up in a
mass that extended as far as Adam, a city next to Zarethan. The water
flowing downstream into the sea of the Arabah (The Dead Sea) was
completely cut off, and the people crossed opposite Jericho. Joshua
3: 14-16
So much of a battle is psychological. The US military hase a whole
"Psyche Op" division devoted to psychological warfare. The purpose of
a "psyche op" is to employ various methods of persuasion, including
media propaganda, to sway public opinion. This allows the operatives
to control the population, circumventing a country or organization's
leadership. Third parties have toppled national regimes, hardly
firing a shot, using only psychology.
The Lord knows how to motivate and de-motivate people. After all, He
created mankind's psyche. Joshua 3 is the story of God delivering His
people, raising their morale by means of the miraculous in response to
faith, and completely destabilizing the enemy's resolve.
After installing Joshua and commanding him to be strong and very
courageous, the Lord directs him to start leading. Joshua begins with
motivating those close to him, and then commands them to prepare
others. Anticipation begins to spread throughout the community of
Israel.
To communicate that God was leading, Joshua had the priests march-out
first. Generally, the Jordan is a quiet stream, but during the
harvest season, its banks overflow to a raging river.
The worst time for a step of faith is the best time for a miracle!
God encouraged Joshua. Joshua's faithfulness encouraged the priests.
God responded to their faithfulness by miraculously parting the
waters, which encouraged the other tribes…so the psyche of Israel
began spiraling upward.
Meanwhile, this was happening within full view of Jericho…completely
demoralizing the enemy.
Success is not just about "positive thinking". It is about 1) Having
an object of faith that is trustworthy: God, experienced through the
lens of His Bible, and 2) Faithfully stepping-out.
L'shana tovah.
Steve Wiggins
Joshua 2
"So the two men went into the hill country and stayed there three
days until the pursuers had returned. They (soldiers of Jericho)
searched all along the way, but did not find them. Then the men
returned, came down from the hill country, and crossed the Jordan.
They went to Joshua son of Nun and reported everything that had
happened to them. They told Joshua, "The Lord had handed over the
entire land to us. Everyone who lives in the land is also panicking
because of us." Joshua 2: 22-24
When considering Joshua's strategy of sending spies into Canaan, it
may help to review Numbers 13-14. Under Moses' direction, 12 spies
were sent out. 10 came back with a bad report, and disheartened the
Israelites. The dissenting 2 spies were Joshua and Caleb.
Per God's judgment, the only two from that generation who were
allowed to enter the Promised Land were, Joshua and Caleb. They
believed God, in spite of overwhelming circumstances.
When Joshua began leading Israel, and the time came to send out
spies, he remembered Israel's past failure. Last time, only
2-out-of-10 gave a good report, so this time Joshua chose only 2
spies. The 2 spies' scouting of Jericho is strikingly similar to the
2 angels' scouting Sodom and Gomorrah before its destruction. Gen
18:16, Gen 19
A faithless spy might have seen a well-fortified city full of people,
eager to defend themselves. God showed Joshua's spies something
different. They observed the people of Jericho had lost their
resolve. All Jericho was afraid of Israel because Israel held the
most important military position: the high moral ground. God was
fighting for Israel.
To quote Rahab the prostitute, "For we have heard how the Lord dried
up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt,
and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings you completely
destroyed across the Jordan. When we heard this, we lost heart and
everyone's courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God
in heaven above and earth below." Joshua 2: 10-11
When you commit yourself to know the crucified & resurrected Messiah,
and nothing else, you hold the most valuable advantage in spiritual
battle. Search His Word for truth to live by, and depend on the power
of His Spirit to sustain & prosper you: no weapon formed against such
a person, will prosper.
When preparing for spiritual battle, and you're seeking wise
reconnaissance, cut yourself free of all opinions that forsake God's
promise & His power. Rely only on those who trust in the Lord.
Blessings.
Steve Wiggins
Deuteronomy 34
"Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top
of Pisgah, which faces Jericho, and the Lord showed him all the land:
Gilead as far as Dan, all of Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and
Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean sea, the
Negev, and the region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms,
as far as Zoar. The Lord then said to him, 'This is the land I
promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, 'I will give it to your
descendants.' I have let you see it with your own eyes, but you will
not cross it.'" Deuteronomy 34: 1-4
Deuteronomy 34, the last chapter in the Torah, ends with the death of
Moses. Just prior to Moses' death, the Lord led him to the top of
Pisgah on Mount Nebo. From there, the Lord enabled Moses to see the
"promised land", in its entirety.
When I first read this passage, as a young believer, I felt God was
being cruel to Moses. Adonai didn't seem very gracious towards His
servant, who had so faithfully trusted Him. It felt God was dangling
the ever-elusive carrot, one last time.
A few years back, I read the story of a man who climbed to the top of
Mount Pisgah, just to view Israel as Moses had. To his surprise, you
can hardly see the land at all!! It was then that I realized God had
given Moses an extraordinary gift. He had enabled Moses to see
prophetically. Add the fact that Israel never fully conquered the
land, and God's grace to Moses is more profound. Moses is the ONLY
person to have seen the Promised Land inhabited by Israel, in its
entirety.
Faith is the evidence of things unseen, and at the end of his
faithful life, Moses was allowed to view the object of his faith
journey. James 1:12 For Moses, it was enough. He could pass,
knowing his work was not in vain. Moses' success would come at the
hands of his successor, Joshua.
For us, the end of the Torah should act as a reminder, that life is
not about building an earthly kingdom. We should be focused on the
heavenly one. God honors those who "die to themselves", that others
can enter-in to His Kingdom.
There's only one thing better than seeing the "promised land", just
before you die. That's entering God's eternal presence just
afterwards - and that's just what Moses did. Matt 17: 1-9
Blessings.
Steve Wiggins
Deuteronomy 33
This is the blessing that Moses, the man of God gave the Israelites before his death. Deut 33: 1
Almost at the end of the Torah, (and the end of his life) Moses closing remarks end with a song and a poetic blessing. Something to note is how Moses blessing differs from the blessing Jacob gave before he passed away.
As I pointed-out a few days ago, Deuteronomy is a very gracious book. Moses retells Israels story, but opts to focus on Gods grace & mercy, as opposed to His punishment of sin. Moses blessing of Israel is gracious and positive. It is a sharp contrast to Jacobs blessing, which seemed more like a curse! Genesis 49
Jacobs blessing may have been harsh, because of his paternal perspective. He knew his sons, and the attitudes & spiritual tendencies that would be passed-down throughout the generations. Moses blessing was based on what the Lord had shown him concerning His plans for Israels future.
Perhaps, the most interesting thing about Moses blessing is that the tribe of Simeon is not mentioned. Scholars have varied differences of opinion, as to why Simeon is absent. Some say the poem/blessing was added after Moses death, leading some to believe the tribe of Simeon had died-out at the time of the blessings addition to Deuteronomy. Of course, thats all unfounded conjecture.
That said, the name, Simeon does make a timely re-appearance in the New Testament on the day of Jesus' circumcision.
There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israels consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lords Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple complex. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for Him what was customary under the law, Simeon took Him up in his arms, praised God, and said:
Now, Master, You can dismiss your slave in peace, according to Your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation. You have prepared it in the presence of all the peoples a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory for Your people, Israel. Luke 2: 25-32
I find it interesting that the name Moses omits from his blessing, is the same name which blesses Messiah, Jesus, on the day He is dedicated to the Lord.
Blessings.
Steve Wiggins
Deuteronomy 32
"They aroused My jealousy with a non-god and provoked Me with their
vanities; I will arouse their jealousy with a non-people and enrage
them with a foolish nation." Deuteronomy 32: 21
These days, it's unusual to find committed relationships. Over half
the marriages end in divorce, and the talk shows & tabloids are filled
with rumors of infidelity. But can you imagine, cheating on God?
Most people cheat because they're looking for someone better. After
courting God, there's nowhere to go but down! Not only that; God is
jealous for His "bride".
In today's chapter, the Lord turns the tables on Israel. He tells
them, that instead of them making Him jealous by forsaking Him for
other gods, He will make them jealous and enrage them because of His
relationship with another people: a "non-people".
In the short term, God provoked Israel to jealousy when He showed
favor to Babylon, empowering them to drive Israel from the land. In a
messianic sense, God has showed His grace and love upon the Gentiles,
through Jesus. Jesus' atonement is irrespective of nationality, and
Paul's conversion of Gentiles accomplished at least two purposes: 1)
It provoked Israel to jealousy, prompting the return of many to the
Lord. 2) It parlayed Israel's transgression into an opportunity to
redeem the nations.
"I ask, then, have they (the Jews) stumbled so as to fall? Absolutely
not! On the contrary, by their stumbling, salvation has come to the
Gentiles to make Israel Jealous. Now, if their stumbling brings
riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how
much more will their full number bring? Now I am speaking to you
Gentiles. In view of the fact that I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I
magnify my ministry, if I can somehow make my own people jealous and
save some of them." Romans 11: 11-14
If Israel would forsake Adonai for the "false gods" of the Gentiles,
perhaps they would forsake those false gods in favor of Adonai when He
became the God of the Gentiles.
"I the Lord have called You into righteousness, and will hold Your
hand, and will keep You, and give You for a covenant of the people,
for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring our the
prisoners from the prison, and those that sit in darkness out from the
prison house." Isaiah 42: 6
"It is too little, He says, for You to be my servant, to raise up the
tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make You
a light to the nations, that My salvation may reach to the ends of the
earth." Isaiah 49: 6
Blessings.
Steve Wiggins
Deuteronomy 31
Moses commanded them, At the end of every seven years, at the time of debt cancellation, during the Festival of Booths, when all Israel assembles in the presence of the Lord your God at the place He chooses, you are to read this law aloud before all Israel. Gather the people men, women, children, and foreigners living within your gates to that they may listen and learn to fear the Lord your God and be careful to follow all the words of this law. Then their children who do not know the law will listen and fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing to possess. Deut 31: 10-13
Deuteronomy has been described as the book of Grace. It recalls the failings of Israel, yet chooses to focus more on their restoration, than their punishment. Chapter 30, the choose life chapter, speaks of Israels restoration to the land, before they ever enter it the first time. Thats pretty gracious and merciful, to say the least.
Whereas Moses, as a biblical image, represents the letter of the law, his successor Joshua is more representative of Gods grace. As a matter of fact, Jesus name in Hebrew is Yshua, or Joshua. The name Yshua means: God saves, or YHVH is my salvation.
The law gives us Gods standard and exposes our inability to meet that standard. It basically sets-up Gods Grace. The law was never intended to be the vehicle to deliver men, hence, Moses was never able to deliver Israel into Canaan. The Law can only take you to the edge of the promised land; only Grace can lead you in.
For it is by grace that we are saved, through faith, and that not of ourselves. It is the gift of God not of works of the law, lest any man should boast. Eph 2: 8-9
Obviously, Joshua could be considered a type of Jesus. This is much the same way Joseph was a type of Messiah, in that Joseph forgave his brothers and saved "Israel" from certain death during the great famine in Canaan. In fact, because Jesus mother Mary was married to a man named Joseph, Jesus would have been known as Yshua ben Yoseph, which translates: God saves, God removes my shame and grants me increase.
In the year when debts were canceled, at the time when Israel was to remember Gods provision and guidance in the desert Exodus, the law was to be read to all Israelites and foreigners living within their gates. Sukkot (the festival of Booths) reminds Israel of His faithfulness, and the reading of the law recalls their transgressions. But because it is the year of canceling debts, God also reminds them of His grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Luke 4: 16-22
As we approach the end of the Torah, be careful to listen & learn to fear the Lord, that you may prosper in the deliverance Messiah has so graciously provided.
Blessings.
Steve Wiggins
Deuteronomy 29
"All of you are standing today before the Lord your God – your
leaders, tribes, elders, officials, all the men of Israel, your
children, your wives, and the foreigners in your camps who cut your
wood and draw your water – so that you may enter into the covenant of
the Lord your God, which He is making with you today, so that you may
enter into His oath and so that He may establish you today as His
people and He may be your God as He promised you and as He swore to
your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I am making this covenant and
this oath not only with you, but also with those who are standing here
with us today in the presence of the Lord our God and with those who
are not here today." Deut 29: 10-15
Deuteronomy 27-30, are chapters pertaining to God's covenant:
Blessings for abiding by His commands, Curses for transgressing them,
and provisions for Repentance & Returning to the Lord.
Almost hidden in all the verbiage, is exactly WHO the covenant was
pertaining to. Obviously God is making His covenant with all Israel,
but who were the "foreigners"? Israel is generally defined as those
whose biological lineage is traced through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
But along side the Israelite is the Foreigner who seeks after the
Lord. Whether slaves or members of the "mixed multitude" who left
Egypt with the Israelites, the bible records God's desire for the
foreigner to know & worship Him, by his inclusion of them in His
covenant.
Know for sure, that God's covenant with Israel concerning the LAND is
very clear. The land is divided among the tribes of Israel…and those
of Israel who are scattered (even today) have the right of return IF
they repent and return to the Lord. This is not the position of the
modern Israeli government, per se, but it is what is written in
scripture.
There is an open attitude and among Orthodox Jews, through
organizations like Chabad…which you see on most major college
campuses…to teach the Torah to Gentiles (non-Jews). But they teach
that Gentiles are under the "Noahide covenant". That is, the general
covenant God gave to mankind after the great flood. They teach that
Gentiles have no "Torah claim" to the covenants of the patriarchs.
Deuteronomy 29 is very clear that God was speaking not only to those
who are "Israel" by blood, but also those who are "Israel", by
faithfully following Adonai. While the two are separate with respect
to DNA and the Land, they are alike in terms of God's blessing to
those who, by faith, believe.
Blessings.
Steve Wiggins
Deuteronomy 28
"The Lord will cause your enemies who will rise up against you to be
defeated before you. They will march out against you from one
direction but flee from seven directions." Deut 28: 7
There are some who believe that following Jesus will ensure a lifetime
of peace. They will tell you that if you want to have peace, you
should get back on track with Jesus. Taking their "theology" a step
further, if you re experiencing difficult times, those people would
tell you it is because there is something wrong with your spiritual
life. That's not necessarily so.
Sure, there are times when we have to deal with the consequences of
our willful sin. But not every hardship is a result of faithlessness.
As a matter of fact, some hardship is directly from the Lord, and
should be considered a blessing. The peace that God provides His
children is not always the absence of conflict. Often times, His
"shalom" manifests itself as peace in the midst of conflict.
Prior to entering the land of Canaan, Moses is emboldening the people,
exhorting them to have courage when the enemy attacks. Remember, the
enemy is always prowling, preparing to attack. The enemy pounces,
whether we are ready or not.
Who is our enemy? Is it not the devil, the world, and the flesh?
If you are seeking the absence of conflict, you will be very
disappointed. Conflict will come, whether you're a Christian or not.
When most people say they want "Peace", what they really mean is that
they want "Victory". With victory comes peace and each victory
experienced, builds towards a "stockpile of peace" that future
conflict will be resolved in the Lord's favor. Victory builds upon
victory. James 1
Growing in faith doesn''t necessarily mean that we will eliminate
conflict. It could mean that God is growing us to be faithful through
even greater conflict. It's all for His glory, because each victory
is His.
You''ll never live victoriously, until you trust the Lord and face
conflict, head-on. Prov 3:5-6 God's word does not ensure the absence
of conflict - but it does ensure victory through it.
Blessings.
Steve Wiggins
Deuteronomy 27
"Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel, 'Be silent,
Israel, and listen! This day you have become the people of the Lord
your God. Obey the Lord your God and follow His commands and statutes
I am giving you today.'" Deut 27: 9-10
I remember one holiday morning, when we were giving presents to each
other, I told my children, "After all the wrapping paper has been torn
off, and you see what you've gotten, let daddy and mommy help you open
the packaging. There are small parts that may get lost or broken, if
the packaging isn't opened with care."
Well, it happens every year. An over-confident "zealous for fun"
child rips through a box and something gets broken or damaged before
it ever gets "played with". That's sad, because the trauma & grief,
which always follows, could have been avoided by employing a little
self-control.
Israel is about to open the "mother of all gifts". They're on the
verge of experiencing the fulfillment of God's promise. They're going
to enter the land that generations of Israelites longed to possess.
All the dialogue from Moses was leading up to one thing: It's actually
going to happen!
In a short time, Israel was going to transcend in a way very few
people-groups have ever seen. They were about to cease being a
nomadic group; and they were becoming a "nation". That is why Moses
tells them, "Today you have become the people of God." It's not that
they haven't been God's people; His presence with and love for Israel
had been undeniable. But at this moment, Israel was becoming a
Nation, with land and borders.
It's one thing to become a legitimate nation, like other nations.
It's another thing to be a nation, separate and holy unto God.
It is from this fever-pitched nationalistic emotional and spiritual
fervor, that Moses gives a biblical version of my holiday speech to my
children: Be quiet and listen! This "gift from God" needs to be
unpacked methodically, and carefully. Your enjoyment and blessing is
dependent upon your following the instructions. In fact, I want you to
write your own copy of the instructions!
Let's respond to today's passage, by renewing our vigilance to know
God's word: His instruction manual for life. By seeking His
instruction, and adhering to it, we can fully enjoy His gift of
deliverance through Messiah, Jesus.
Blessings.
Steve Wiggins
